Greetings. I have a 1994 serial numbered Norinco MAK-90, with a threaded barrel.I'm adding an AK-74 style muzzle brake. It did not come with a washer of any kind.What do I need to know about installing it? Does it need a washer? How hard should I torque?Is alignment going to be problem? Why is the sky blue?What is life?Why is my IQ so low?

Thanks!Steve

Paid Advertisement

--

Eyegun [Member]

8/22/2007 4:20:01 PM EDT

No washer necessary.

Should screw on and then be held in place with the detent pin.

el_feroz [Member]

8/22/2007 4:21:24 PM EDT

As long as the thread pattern on your rifle matches that on the brake it should be pretty easy. It will thread in until the point that it reaches the detent (thats the little nub that sticks out on top of the FSH, its spring loaded and can be pushed in). Push it back and turn it as far as you can, making sure that the brake stops with the cutout lined up so the detent goes into it.

glockster234 [Member]

8/22/2007 4:44:29 PM EDT

Sure, answer the easy questions and totally avoid the tough ones.

Thanks guys!

JA545 [Member]

8/22/2007 5:52:37 PM EDT

Your rifle being a 1994 import and you asking about using a retaining washer tells me that your rifle was not threaded at the factory. All of the MAK-90's I have seen imported in 1994 either had the threads turned off the barrel or never had the barrel threaded. Also the hole for the muzzle nut retaining pin was never drilled in the front sight base or was welded closed.You can do the quick fix and use a lock washer as this is how the muzzle brakes are held on AR-15/M-16 rifles. Or you can drill a hole in the front sight base and install a muzzle brake retaining pin.

Go to my web pages and click on the link "How to install and remove muzzle brake retaining pins and muzzle nuts" as there is a sketch showing the muzzle brake retaining pin in the front sight base. Also check the how to thread barrels page as it discusses the different sizes of threads used on AK barrels.home.comcast.net/~jfreeman16/

Kyarguy [Member]

8/22/2007 7:01:15 PM EDT

Originally Posted By glockster234: Why is the sky blue?Thanks!Steve

I don't know about the others questions, but this i can answer.

The sky is blue because blue light scatters better than othercolors in the visible spectrum. If you want the nuts and bolts of it,i will have to dig through some of my old notes from an atmosphericscience class i took...

KyAKGuy

Teleportgrend [Member]

8/22/2007 7:35:01 PM EDT

I have a WASR-10 GP. It looks like the slant muzzle brake is NOT welded. I pushed in the pin that comes out of the FSB, and tried (with all of my might) to turn the brake off of the barrel. I am under the understanding that it "should" turn clockwise to loosen.

1. Is that the correct direction?2. Any tips for getting the thing off?3. What size muzzle brake fits the WASR-10 series?

I know one of you has done this to the same model rifle. pictures would be appreciated.

edit: how do you delete posts here? This should probably go into the Romanian section....

glockster234 [Member]

8/22/2007 10:54:37 PM EDT

Originally Posted By JA545:Your rifle being a 1994 import and you asking about using a retaining washer tells me that your rifle was not threaded at the factory. All of the MAK-90's I have seen imported in 1994 either had the threads turned off the barrel or never had the barrel threaded. Also the hole for the muzzle nut retaining pin was never drilled in the front sight base or was welded closed.You can do the quick fix and use a lock washer as this is how the muzzle brakes are held on AR-15/M-16 rifles. Or you can drill a hole in the front sight base and install a muzzle brake retaining pin.

Go to my web pages and click on the link "How to install and remove muzzle brake retaining pins and muzzle nuts" as there is a sketch showing the muzzle brake retaining pin in the front sight base. Also check the how to thread barrels page as it discusses the different sizes of threads used on AK barrels.home.comcast.net/~jfreeman16/

Arrrgggghhhh. I think you're on to something here. The new 14:1 muzzle brake does not fit. It spins at the tip without grabbing. The brake's threads are visibly much coarser than the very fine thread of my AK. Also, I have no muzzle nut retaining hole or pin. (I saw my friend's AK, so I am certain I don't have the hole or pin). The barrel itself is threaded for the entire exposed length, except under the front sight assembly and under the forward attachment point for the gas tube.

If it helps any, my MAK has no cleaning rod or method for attaching one.Nor does it have a bayonet lug. I'm assuming it is a 1994, because the first two digits of the serial number are 94.

My eyes are too old and weary to determine whether the threading goes all the way to the end of the barrel. The threads are too fine to feel my way too.

So what do I do now? I'm not married to the idea of the AK-74 brake, but I like it a lot.I'm open to suggestions. Be nice.

I'm not sure what you mean by 1994's "had the threads turned off the barrel."Does this mean just the end has been "dethreaded"?If so, can I legally retap the threads?

Thanks,Steve

out-a-ammo [Member]

8/23/2007 6:48:52 AM EDT

Originally Posted By glockster234:Greetings. I have a 1994 serial numbered Norinco MAK-90, with a threaded barrel.I'm adding an AK-74 style muzzle brake. It did not come with a washer of any kind.What do I need to know about installing it? Does it need a washer? How hard should I torque?Is alignment going to be problem? This and the above hav been answred.Why is the sky blue? If it was green you wouldn't know where to stop mowing.What is life? A series of struggles and failures on the way to nothing.Why is my IQ so low?Your parents.

Thanks!Steve

TacticalOpsAR [Member]

8/23/2007 9:14:48 AM EDT

sounds like someone rethreaded your turned down barrel with something other than 14mm, 1/2" 28 possibly

is the 74 brake 14mm or 24m?

glockster234 [Member]

8/23/2007 11:08:24 AM EDT

Originally Posted By TacticalOpsAR:sounds like someone rethreaded your turned down barrel with something other than 14mm, 1/2" 28 possibly

is the 74 brake 14mm or 24m?

I don't think so. The threading runs from the forend to the gas tube support. Then no threading. Then it is threaded between the gas tube support and the front sight. Then no threading. Then there is the same threading from the front sight to the end of the barrel.I can't tell if it is threaded all the way to the very tip of the barrel though. It looks like it is, but my eyes ain't dad good.

The brake is 14mm.

Thanks,Steve

TacticalOpsAR [Member]

8/23/2007 2:12:30 PM EDT

do you have a pic?

sounds more like you are describing the ridges on the barrel from when it is profiled on a mill/lathe rather than actual threads. I would be very suprised if you had threads between the gas block/port and the front site base

JA545 [Member]

8/23/2007 5:47:33 PM EDT

Here is a pic of your barrel.

The barrel is not threaded but has machine marks. They were made when the barrel was turned down in a lathe during mfg. Preventing machine marks would require running the lathe slower = a longer time in the lathe for each barrel. Or they would have to be polished off = a longer time in the lathe for each barrel.Which adds up to fewer barrels made per day = loosing $$You will have to measure your barrel with calipers or a micrometer to see what size you can thread it and then buy once you thread it you will need to buy the correct size muzzle brake.

The barrel is not threaded but has machine marks. They were made when the barrel was turned down in a lathe during mfg. Preventing machine marks would require running the lathe slower = a longer time in the lathe for each barrel. Or they would have to be polished off = a longer time in the lathe for each barrel.Which adds up to fewer barrels made per day = loosing $$You will have to measure your barrel with calipers or a micrometer to see what size you can thread it and then buy once you thread it you will need to buy the correct size muzzle brake.

Ya mon, dat be it! Thanks JA545 for the pic and the explaination.So if I thread the barrel, am I breaking any ATF rules?I have already made the MAK 922r compliant with US made FCG, forend, buttstock and pistol grip.

Thanks much,Stephen

JA545 [Member]

8/24/2007 7:58:09 PM EDT

Threading the barrel makes no difference to the law. As long as your rifle has only 10 imported parts you are legal.